SOS

by mackenzie925

Chlark It's been two years since Clark and Chloe spoke to each other. Though estranged now, Chloe still comes back to Smallville, desperate for his help. But do either know what dangers await them? Or what feelings might resurface?

3. Chapter 3

A/N: Thanks to tall who have been reading and reviewing! I hope everyone has enjoyed this story so far.  So much more is to come.

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Chapter 1: The Name of the Game

Part 3

The skies above Metropolis bore the same dark clouds as those in Smallville only hours before. Chloe parked her car in the three story garage set aside for the occupants of the apartment building that sat just a few feet away. The garage offered quite a convenience in a city such as Metropolis, which held a much higher crime rate than most cities in the United States. She loved this city, grew up in this city, and was born in this city. But there were days Chloe anxiously held her breath while walking from her car to the elevator that, after few more hallways, eventually led into her apartment building.

After what happened to Lois … I think I have new reasons to be suspicious of everything, Chloe thought, as she turned the car off, gathered her purse and keys, and opened the door to climb out. Though the temperature felt humid, just as every July in Metropolis, the harsh weather did not let up a bit. Lightening lit up the sky in a bright yellow, the shapes of numerous dark clouds illuminated in short seconds of time. Chloe quickened her actions, as the weather grew harsher. In seconds, she set her car alarm and began walking the short distance between her car and the elevator door. The click of her shoes on the cement echoed across the huge, seemingly empty space of the garage, deafening.

Chloe's mind drifted a bit as she fell into the routine paces from her car to her apartment. Her trip, to some extent, was successful. After she disclosed to Clark her true reasons for showing up in Smallville after so long, he raced out the door to perform a thorough inspection of the surrounding area. Of course, Chloe grabbed him just a few seconds before he left, ensuring him that for the past four days and sleepless nights, that is all she has been doing with no success. Searching …

And if it was as easy as asking Clark Kent, the boy who could fly, to do a few laps, maybe Chloe would've used the phone instead.

But deep down … I know it's not that easy. Whatever happened to Lois, it's serious. And it'll take serious investigation to find a needle in a haystack, Chloe reasoned inwardly, striking the button to her floor in the elevator.

Of course, how did she expect Clark to react? Say, "Okay, what do you want me to do to help?" This would not be that easy, either. Chloe Sullivan, a top investigative reporter for The Daily Planet, who held many different contacts all over the world to help with her numerous stories, could not even locate Lois Lane. Why did Clark Kent think he could? Despite his own super powers?

Before Clark could break free from her grip to keep him grounded until he heard everything she had to say, Chloe gave him the address to her apartment in Metropolis, and insisted he go there when his search was unsuccessful.

To her surprise, Clark promised he would show up.

After only a few minutes, Chloe faced the door to her apartment, and slowly unlocked it with her key. With an exhausted sigh, she opened it and stepped in, surprised by the sudden image in front of her. The room itself was under darkness, its only illumination the dancing fire, and the flames were bright enough to reveal a lone figure on the couch. The shadows almost hid the figure's face. Almost.

With quiet surprise and concern, Chloe asked, "Lana? What are you still doing up? It's almost midnight."

Lana turned from her unwavering vision of the fire to gaze at her best friend, who stood motionless across the room next to the closed door. Lightening flashed violently outside once more, the few seconds giving Lana a look onto Chloe's concerned face. The rain outside filled the void of silence as she searched for the appropriate words for her inner anger. With a disgusted sigh, she stood up, and said softly, "Why didn't you tell me about Lois?"

Chloe felt immediately awkward, aware that her cousin and Lana had developed quite a close friendship over the past few months. Surprising to say the least, but still nice to see. With no Clark, Chloe sensed a kinship was born between herself, Lois, and Lana. As if they all survived the same ordeal, and all came out alive and well. It only increased by the move to Metropolis, which started with Lois interviewing for a job at the Planet more than three years ago. A year after that, Chloe followed suit, and both she and Lois became popular among the Metropolis scene.

Lana, still struggling with her own purpose in life, eventually found herself in Chloe's new apartment as more of a comfort zone to reside in while she studied at Met U.

Chloe nodded with understanding in response to Lana's frustration, aware she kept information at a minimum around her in fear she would worry her for no reason. What her cousin did on her own time was usually none of her business. And when Chloe first discovered Lois was gone, her worry was non-existent, and telling Lana would have been premature. But with no calls, no form of communication by Lois to ensure her friends she was all right since she left, suddenly it became serious.

"I didn't want to get you involved," Chloe admitted, slinging her purse over the coat rack next to the door. The same with her rain soaked coat, as she explained further, "I didn't want to worry you, especially when I didn't know much of Lois' disappearing act myself."

Lana nodded and walked a little closer. "I want to help find her," she insisted with conviction, letting her eyes fall to Chloe's, letting her see how committed she would be to finding her friend.

And though Chloe certainly appreciated the offer, she needed to decline it. "I'm sorry, Lana, but I don't want you involved in this. Who knows where it'll take me …".

"Ever more reason to let me help," Lana pushed lightly, yet the strength in her voice was unmistakable. "You can't do this alone."

Chloe walked up to Lana, now only a few feet away. The fire illuminated her friend's face much better from this short distance, and Chloe knew it would take quite a bit to ensure Lana that she had everything under control. "It's okay, really," she insisted, crossing her arms, "I went to Smallville."

"You what?" Lana asked, aware of what it must've took to do such a thing. From the sidelines she watched Chloe and Clark fight, ruin their friendship and newfound relationship merely two years ago. It took Chloe months to stop crying, months to gain her composure. Months to forgive herself and Clark for what happened. Though they rarely spoke to each other since. Lana seemed to be the messenger between the two during the first few months of the messy break-up, but soon after both were silent.

Lana kept up a decent friendship with Clark. And certainly with Chloe. But it did become surprisingly lonely standing in the middle.

Chloe gazed to the floor, then to the fire as she continued on with a light tone, "Yeah, I went to see him."

Though Lana was still upset with Chloe, her concern outweighed her frustration, "How did it go?"

With a shrug, Chloe answered quietly, "The War of the Worlds didn't start, if that's what you mean." She took a second to let her sarcasm fade, to answer truthfully. Sarcasm was by far her defense mechanism. But she didn't need it with Lana, no matter how often she used it anyway. "I went to him … to get his help."

Lana rubbed her forehead a little before she pointed out, "So, you were willing to go to Clark, the person you haven't talked to in almost two years, for help before coming to me?"

Chloe knew how bad this looked, and knew Lana had every reason to be angry with her. But her reasons were many, not including Clark's unusual gifts and abilities. "Clark and I work well together, even when we hate each other. I just …" Chloe began, stepping a foot closer to emphasize her point, "… it's important to have someone who can predict what I'll do. And vice versa. Finding Lois is top priority, and if it means working with someone like Clark in the interest of efficiency, then … so be it."

"So fine, work with Clark. But let me help," Lana pressed. The three of them could do a lot of damage and cover a lot of ground. One more person would do nothing but help, right?

Chloe shook her head, this time reaching for Lana's hand, "I won't make you follow me on some dangerous crusade. I've already lost one person I cared for … I'm not going to lose you, too."

Lana knew what she spoke of, the partner Chloe teamed up with when she first arrived at the Planet. Only a year ago did the event occur, a moment of pain and loss. Chloe never really forgave herself for what happened. And since then, has worked alone on almost all of her cases. The destiny she chose for herself would be her own, Lana reasoned quietly. At least, that was the attitude Chloe brought to the horrible situation. The only way to fix it.

So Chloe's hesitation to let her help was understandable. A hesitation rooted in a personal catastrophe. But this was different. This wasn't just some case that Lana was signing up for. This was a drastic search for a friend. Someone she cared about. And everyone would be needed.

"Don't shut me out of this. You act as if you and Clark are the only ones who can save Lois," Lana argued lightly. Yet it came off a bit harsher than she wanted it to.

Chloe sighed and stepped away. "I'm sorry, Lana. I won't risk you. You can't help this time." The only person she dared risk was Clark, and she only did so because he was virtually impenetrable. Not to mention they did work well together, through their personal anger for each other. That didn't matter right now. All that mattered was getting to Lois.

Lana nodded and turned to grab her purse from the couch nearby. If Chloe wouldn't let her help, than she would find someone else who would. "Fine. I'll see you later," she commented tightly, and walked past her roommate towards the door.

Yet the moment she opened it, Clark stood motionless on the other side, poised to knock. His eyes brightened a bit, and he smiled warmly. They stared at each other for a second, and Lana offered a small smile of her own before pushing past him. "Hi, Clark."

"Lana," Clark said quietly, happy to see her. He almost forgot she lived in the same apartment as Chloe. And seeing her left him a little speechless. But that seemed to happen a lot, Clark mused. Every time he saw her, she never ceased to take his breath away. Even though he would always be attracted to Lana, he soon realized they didn't mix well past friendship. Though they tried often enough.

Lana nodded lightly, smiled, gave his forearm a squeeze, and promised quickly, "I'll see you later."

Clark turned to watch her leave, and then turned casually to Chloe, who stood silently in the middle of the room. Their eyes caught for a moment before she walked towards the open kitchen area to the far right. Immediately she turned on the small lamp on the tiny peninsula that jutted out from the wall separating the living room and kitchen. Clark sighed a bit and walked to her, the smell of a candle she just lit a warm comfort in the soaking rain outside.

But he caught himself … Because I'm not supposed to feel all warm and fuzzy when around Chloe. Not after the nightlong search, not after hearing Lois has disappeared … not after surviving the pain that could not be forgotten.

In an attempt to change the thought process in his head, Clark asked blatantly, with edge, "What was that all about?"

Chloe moved to a cupboard to retrieve a glass, and soon filled it almost to the top with tap water, and with a sigh explained quietly, "I didn't tell her about Lois."

Clark nodded, not quite understanding the entire situation.

In light of this, Chloe illustrated further, "Lana wants to help in our investigation. But I didn't think that was such a good idea … you know, considering our track record of getting into dangerous spots."

Clark huffed slightly, and urged roughly, but with a hint of a smile, "You mean, you're tendency to get into rough spots."

Chloe almost felt a giggle rise in her throat, but she quickly suppressed. No matter how gentle this conversation seemed to be, there was still a large void between them. Crossing it required much more than casual conversation on a rainy night.

As if in response, Clark asked with a slight twinge of annoyance, "You knew I wouldn't find her." At that, Chloe looked up from her water to gaze into his eyes. Any pleasantries that existed at the beginning of this conversation might have just melted away into what would always be left between them; distance, betrayal … and jealousy.

Chloe only nodded.

"How? How did you know?" Clark asked, his anger rising slightly as he moved closer to her.

Chloe shrugged, insisting, "I don't know. Reporter's instincts?"

Clark sighed again, this time leaning back against the counter. He looked at the candle that sat next to him, and watched the small light flicker only a tiny bit in the natural air of the room. Before he came here, no matter if he found Lois or not, his decision to stay away from Chloe would hold true. Granted, he wanted to find Lois. But he wanted to do it his way, with no Chloe distraction whatsoever. His way would be faster.

Yet tonight, with not even a glimmer of success in his search, Clark knew to find Lois meant working with Chloe again, despite his reservations. A thought that certainly arose the pain again, which always waited patiently at the edge of his heart. Deep in his soul, however, he felt a twinge of light that flickered weakly in his sadness. A flicker of light he almost let die out completely. A flicker that offered hope of revival for a friendship, though he wouldn't admit it, he sorely missed.

"Okay," Clark began quietly, "what do we do now?"

Chloe bit back her smile slightly, and responded with confidence, "Well, tomorrow we're going to Lois' apartment to retrieve our only life line."

"And tonight?" Clark asked.

"Tonight, we crash. You can sleep on the couch, if you want. I'd hate to have you zipping around so late at night," Chloe offered, unable to hide a soft smile.

Clark almost smiled himself, and replied with a nod, "Sure." He watched her walk away, into the living room towards the fire. And for once, he didn't see the pain.

For once …

He saw only her.

Lex stood at the huge window of his office that looked down upon the busy city of Metropolis. The limited time of solitude was always welcomed in his life. His only companion was the light classical music that drifted from the speakers of his stereo. A blanket of serenity, really. The only activity to calm him, take him away from the busy corporate world that defined his life so often now.

But this moment would not last.

"Mr. Luthor," called a voice from the door, which Lex didn't realize had opened.

With an exhausted sigh, he responded harshly, "What else could possibly need my attention tonight?"

His assistant took a second before he informed quietly, "You have a visitor, sir."

A visitor? This late at night? "Send them in." His curiosity alone urged him to see who would possibly need him tonight.

And once his assistant backed away, Lana Lang entered and walked right up to his desk. A little hesitantly, but yet with an unwavering strength. That just interested him all the more, and as he turned his music off, he asked with concern, "Lana? Is everything all right?"

Lana took a second, a breath, and then asked, "I assume you know that Lois is missing."

Lex knew then why she had come. He nodded and slipped his hands in his pockets, walking up to his desk to face his longtime friend. A person he would do anything for, would risk his life for. Whatever she wanted, he gave it to her. This would be no exception. "Of course," he reassured, walking around his desk to her side of it. "I have my own investigators looking for her."

"They don't seem to be doing a good job. Your Daily Planet sells out day after day because of her articles. I expected a cavalry," Lana snapped.

Lex huffed slightly, and added, "Well, it's not that easy."

Lana nodded and stepped away a bit, giving them both space as she informed, "Chloe and Clark are on it now."

At that, Lex's eyes grew, his shock evident in his features. The last name he expected to hear was Clark Kent. Back after so long. Yet, Lex should expect him to arrive without his knowledge. Did he really expect his old friend to come up to his office and say "Hey, what's up?" Yeah, right. It's been too long, too much water under the bridge to allow something like that. "Really? I didn't expect that. Especially after what happened between them."

"I wanted to help them," Lana continued, deciding to ignore his comments for the moment, "… but they didn't want me involved."

Lex leaned back against his desk casually, in one way letting his friend vent a little. Lana rarely came to him for help, but when she did it was often serious. Mostly she came with a chasm of trouble and worry that only he could fix with his influence, and, sometimes, money. At the moment, he sensed another such instance. "It will be dangerous. And if they want to investigate themselves, I won't stop them. Especially Chloe, one of my best reporters."

Lana turned away from him for a second, and then turned back, her eyes deep with sadness for her friend, so lost and missing. "Just let me help with your investigation. I really think I can add a lot. Especially since I know Lois so well," she explained, half pleaded.

Lex wanted her help, but a heavy burden lay on his heart. One of wonderment and concern to what might be really driving Lana. Where this all might lead her, perhaps to a place she won't expect. "It's okay to let Chloe and Clark go after her. Or my investigators. You don't need to get involved."

"But I want to," Lana pushed further. "And you're going to help me."

Lex smiled faintly, and nodded. Okay, maybe I can do this. Maybe she and I, working together, can find Lois just as easily as anyone else. "All right," he promised, and asked, "Where did you want to start? You seem to have some idea."

"Security cameras," Lana explained with a smile, stepping up to him.

Lex walked back around his desk, and informed with deflated hope, "I hope you plan on spending the night, because that'll take days."

Lana smiled sweetly. "Then let's get started."

The winter here's cold, and bitter
It's chilled us to the bone
We haven't seen the sun for weeks
To long too far from home

Clark sat on the small windowsill, his eyes gazing at the stars that finally re-emerged after the huge storm. The same stars he watched through his youth. The same stars he wished on for hope, for strength, for love. And yet, so much has changed since the last time he looked through his telescope so long ago. Changes that kept him up at night, every night really.

I feel just like I'm sinking
and I claw for solid ground
I'm pulled down by the undertow
I never thought I could feel so low
oh darkness I feel like letting go

He thought of his father now, his heart pounding in his chest from the overwhelming sadness. It gripped him so often now, as if it would never let him go. His mother had dealt with the loss well, and in fact, found a place with relatives for the past few weeks to ease her own pain. Though she offered him to come with her, Clark felt a dire need to deal with this alone.

if all of the strength and all of the courage
come and lift me from this place
I know I could love you much better than this
full of grace
full of grace
my love

Because all his life, he dealt with all of it alone.

All the powers he had, and none of them could save his father. None of them could ease his pain.

Tonight Clark felt the darkness surround him, the stars outside the only light to illuminate his way home. And maybe his travels led him here, maybe his pain brought him to an old friend he rarely thought of. An old friend who may have hurt him, but often enough eased him in his darkest moments. Comforted him like no other. Why he pushed her away still, he didn't know. He knew he has yet forgiven her completely, if at all.

so it's better this way, I said
having seen this place before
where everything we said and did
hurts us all the more

But maybe now was the time to let her back in. To fight his pain, to let his heart welcome in the one person he missed the most.

The person he has always missed.

What Clark did not realize, what he neglected to see, was the figure watching him through a hidden doorway in the darkness of the night. So caught up in his thoughts, he never sensed this other presence. Her face conflicted with numerous emotions, from the need to comfort, from the need to back away.

its just that we stayed, too long
in the same old sickly skin
I'm pulled down by the undertow
I never thought I could feel so low
oh darkness I feel like letting go

All Chloe could really do was watch him. Wish so much was different between them. Wish she could rewind her life back two years, change all that went wrong. In a moment such as this, she saw herself walking up to him. Reach her hand to him, ignore all the voices that told her not to cross this line again. Give him comfort in a time of need. Let him hug her, melt into her. Take his pain away.

if all of the strength
and all of the courage
come and lift me from this place

Love him the way she wanted to. Love him in the way he needed most.

Yet she stood still. Watched him from afar. And could only wish for her universe to realign.

To never let go of him ever again.

I know I could love you much better than this
full of grace
full of grace
my love

With a small, faint smile, Chloe studied his face once more. She wished so much was different. Her heart ached for a time lost, forgotten. For a love so awesome, so amazing, and yet so fragile.

Perhaps so unstable.

So unsure.

Chloe backed away into her bedroom again, silently, unheard. And prayed for tomorrow to come soon.

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End of update

End of chapter

More to come …